▼8%
$166,347
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$135k
MEDIAN
$166k
90%
$225k
The average salary for a Principal Architect is $166,347 in 2025
Base Salary
$135k - $225k
Bonus
$3k - $35k
Profit Sharing
$1k - $19k
Total Pay
$152k - $238k
Is Average Late-Career Principal Architect with Cloud Computing Skills Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Principal Architects?
▼1%
What Do Principal Architects Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Principal Architect
Medical
100%
Dental
100%
Vision
100%
Gender Breakdown for Principal Architects
Male
100.0%
This data is based on 12 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Principal Architects
What is the highest pay for Principal Architects?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Principal Architect is $225k / year
What is the lowest pay for Principal Architects?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Principal Architect is $135k / year
How can Principal Architects increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Principal Architect is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Principal Architect that oversees more junior Principal Architects, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.